Portage Road area hit with brazen break-ins

Three identical residential break-ins on Monday, all within a couple blocks of each other, have Saanich police seeking information to track down a suspect.

A resident in the 900-block of Portage Rd. reported first incident at 12:55 p.m. The front door was kicked in, and electronics and sports jerseys were taken from the home.

The second incident occurred at 2:15 p.m. in the 3700-block of Grange Rd. A resident in the home heard a knock at the door, which was then kicked in by an unknown male. He fled.

Police returned to the same Grange Road block at 8:30 p.m. after a homeowner returned to find they had been broken into. It’s likely someone shouldered or kicked the front door open.

“This serves as a reminder to check your locking mechanisms for your doors,” said Sgt. Dean Jantzen. “This is your primary defence against these types of attacks. Ensure that your doors are solid and that you have good quality deadbolts, not just locking handles.”

A description of the suspect in the second incident was provided to police.

The man is described as being in his late 20s, with a muscular build and about six feet tall. He was wearing a blue shirt, blue, shiny track pants, and a blue bandana. He was carrying a black and yellow duffle bag.

Anyone with information on any of these incidents can call 250-475-4321 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.